FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS: READING

22 December 2016

Ben Mouncer

Connections between City and their upcoming opponents

EX-City striker Jamie Cureton scored the goal that secured Reading's promotion from Division Two back in 2002.

Cureton was in the middle of his successful three-year stint with the Royals and came off the bench to equalise against Brentford at Griffin Park, with a sixth successive draw enough for Alan Pardew's men.

During his time with the Berkshire club Cureton totalled 127 appearances, finding the net 55 times.

Two other players who would go on to have future associations with the Canaries were also playing for Reading on that day, one of the most memorable in their recent history.

Graeme Murty, a Professional Development Phase coach in City's Academy between 2014 and 2016, is a Royals icon having played over 300 league matches over an 11-year stint.

In midfield was Andy Hughes, a Canary from 2005 to 2007 and who recently returned to Carrow Road in his role as first-team coach at Huddersfield Town. He made 182 appearances for Reading.

Towards the back end of the noughties, City made a habit of loaning players from the Madejski with four youngsters temporarily joining the Canaries' ranks.

James Henry, Alex Pearce, Leroy Lita and David Mooney all had short spells at Carrow Road, with Lita contributing seven goals in 16 games.

Three City favourites had periods with Reading in the twilights of their careers.

Scot Robert Fleck, former Norwich Player of the Year, moved to the Royals at the end of his second spell with the Canaries, scoring his only goal for the club in the very first game at the Madejski Stadium in August 1998.

Mark Bowen famously made 399 appearances for City but he played for Reading just once in a Football League Trophy match in 1999, the final professional appearance of his career.

John Polston also pulled on the blue and white after a long association with City - he made 24 outings before retiring because of a knee injury in 2001.

Another to have made the switch from Carrow Road to the Madejski is Peter Grant, the ex-City player and manager spending the 1999-00 season with Reading.

Off the field, Norwich's current Head of Football Recruitment Tony Spearing joined the Club from Monday's opponents in April, where he held a similar position.